Learning Opportunities | B.A. in Journalism and Integrated Media

The Chimes is the weekly student-run newspaper of Biola University and the most widely consumed campus news source. The Chimes won the Online Pacemaker Award — the highest national award for student publications — in both 2014 and 2013 from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) and College Media Advisers. The Chimes and its staff members have also won a variety of awards from the California College Media Association (CCMA) and the Baptist Press.

Editors and business staff, funded by scholarship, are chosen by competitive application a year in advance. Staff members are selected annually for expertise in select media areas (e.g. Advertising staff are selected for background in marketing). Staff training for the editorial and advertising staff provides students with incentives for excellence in portfolio material. Chimes Online, a standalone staff of writers, photographers and multimedia producers, provides daily, interactive news and feature coverage of the campus and the La Mirada region. The Chimes’ print and online versions also adapt stories from the Associated Press for Biola’s audiences.

Cross-Cultural Photojournalism

In Biola's Cross-Cultural Photojournalism program, students travel to other countries and cultures to find and cover stories on a week-long trip. Students select, edit and compile images into visual stories to be shown during the latter part of the semester. Recent trips have included the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Association of Christian College Media (ACCM)

Headquartered at Biola University, this organization sponsors an annual national contest in which students compete for awards in newspaper, TV, radio and Web media production. ACCM also offers regional student media leadership workshops.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be on the radio? Would you like to be a DJ, talk show host, news reporter, anchor, or sports broadcaster? Or do you have aspirations of working in marketing, public relations, web design or commercial production? As a Biola student, you will get hands-on training and experience in Biola's student-run radio station, KBR: The Torch. KBR is an Internet-only station that seeks to serve the Biola campus, surrounding communities and world with high-quality, God-honoring programming. The station primarily functions as a learning environment for Biola students who wish to grow in on air, production, sales and management skills. It is The Torch's goal to operate under the highest of professional standards and become a model for other college stations. KBR is looking for all genres of programming from students of all majors and disciplines! If you want to get involved, e-mail KBR's General Manager Jackson Theune.

Public Relations Student Society of America

The Biola chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America offers a myriad of opportunities to help students enhance their education, broaden their network and launch their career in public relations. An offshoot of the professional organization, PRSSA offers:

Club meetings with speaking appearances by professionals in the industry

Opportunity for leadership experience within the Biola chapter

Discounted admission to events and speaking engagements held by Los Angeles and Orange County PRSA chapters

Mentorship program

Scholarship opportunities

Yearly conferences

6th Street Public Relations

A completely student-run PR agency, 6th Street works with clients on and off-campus. With a commitment to excellence and professionalism, staff members in 6th Street PR have the opportunity to work in a variety of Public Relations campaigns including events, branding, media relations and awareness.

6th Street offers Biola students a variety of opportunities within the agency, from being a staff member to taking on a larger role as an Account Executive for a campaign, the Creative Director, or the Agency Director. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

American Studies Program

The American Studies Program, set in Washington, D.C., is ideal for students who want a better grasp of communications within government agencies. The program, run by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, provides public policy discussion and coursework along with opportunities for both public relations and journalistic internships. Seebestsemester.com for details.

The Point is an award-winning magazine written, designed and produced entirely by students of Biola University. The publication is a past winner of a coveted Pacemaker award from the Associated Collegiate Press — one of the highest honors a college publication can receive.

The Biolan

Biola’s yearbook — one of the oldest forms of student media on the campus — provides students experience in magazine-style feature writing, feature and documentary-style photojournalism and four-color page design in a context that gives student journalists insight to careers in magazine production and book publishing. Editors are chosen a year in advance, but section editors are selected in fall semesters to serve through the year.

Field Production Trips

The Department of Journalism and Integrated Media offers special-topic, elective workshops for variable credit during some semesters that provide students hands-on experience in reporting, writing or visual journalism. Recent workshops have taken students to New York and Washington, D.C., for insights into political journalism; other trips involved travel to central Mexico for documentary photojournalism projects, and to Texas for insights on business aspects of freelance photography.

Christians in Photojournalism (CIP)

Christians in Photojournalism co-sponsors a yearly conference for professional photojournalists and students aspiring to enter the profession. Students from Biola's visual journalism emphasis attend this conference as part of a class on the Business of Visual Journalism.

CMA/ACP's yearly conference offers hundreds of workshops covering various topics within the field of journalism, designed especially for staff members of student media.

Disney Internships

Biola’s campus, so near Anaheim, home of Disneyland, provides students many opportunities for internships that can provide networking for both public relations and journalism careers. Students accepted for Disney internships complete coursework in leadership development and experience with public management. Students can also build ties to professionals in media properties owned by Disney, such as ABC News.

Washington D.C. Journalism and PR opportunities

The Fund for American Studies and various other D.C.-based study and internship opportunities have been a successful fit for Biola journalism and public relations students. These programs offer courses and internship opportunities that parallel elements of our majors. Many Biola graduates in journalism and PR have made successful career entry in D.C.

Experience Journalism

Biola journalism students plan this yearly intensive journalism training event for high school students interested in the field. High school juniors and seniors participate in workshops led by industry professionals, interact with current Biola journalism students and compete in news writing contests.